Salvia plant named ‘DOSALMIPU’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Salvia  plant named ‘Dosalmipu’, characterized by its compact and upright plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; very dark purple-colored stems; early and freely flowering habit; upright inflorescences with dark violet blue-colored flowers positioned on very dark purple-colored peduncles; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Salvia nemorosa.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DOSALMIPU’.

CROSS-REFERENCED TO CLOSELY-RELATED APPLICATIONS

Title: Salvia Plant Named ‘DOSALMIRO’

Inventor: Ellen van Sambeek

Filed: Concurrently with this application

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY INVENTOR & APPLICANT/ASSIGNEE

An European Community Plant Breeder's Rights application for the instant plant was filed by the Applicant/Assignee, Dümmen Group B.V. of De Lier, The Netherlands on Aug. 24, 2020, application number 2020/1987. Foreign priority is not claimed to this application.

The Inventor and Applicant/Assignee assert that no publications nor advertisements relating to sales, offers for sale or public distribution occurred more than one year prior to the effective filing date of this application. Any information about the claimed plant would have been obtained from a direct or indirect disclosure from the Inventor and/or Applicant/Assignee. Inventor and Applicant/Assignee claim a prior art exemption under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosure and/or sales prior to the filing date but less than one year prior to the effective filing date.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Salvia plant, botanically known as Salvia nemorosa and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Dosalmipu’.

The new Salvia plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Aalsmeer, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new compact Salvia plants with numerous attractive flowers.

The new Salvia plant originated from a cross-pollination in April, 2015 of a proprietary selection of Salvia nemorosa identified as code number SV13-000096-006, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Salvia nemorosa identified as code number SV13-000314-001, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Salvia plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Aalsmeer, The Netherlands in April, 2016.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by vegetative terminal cuttings in Aalsmeer, The Netherlands, since June, 2016 has shown that the unique features of this new Salvia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Salvia have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Dosalmipu’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Dosalmipu’ as a new and distinct Salvia plant:

-   -   1. Compact and upright plant habit.     -   2. Vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely branching habit.     -   4. Very dark purple-colored stems.     -   5. Early and freely flowering habit.     -   6. Upright inflorescences with dark violet blue-colored flowers         positioned on very dark purple-colored peduncles.     -   7. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Salvia can be compared to plants of the parent selections. Plants of the new Salvia differ primarily from plants of the parent selections in plant habit as plants of new Salvia are more compact and more uniform than plants of the parent selections. In addition, plants of the new Salvia have dark violet blue-colored flowers whereas flowers of plants of the parent selections are purple in color.

Plants of the new Salvia can be compared to plants of Salvia nemarosa ‘Dosalmiro’, disclosed in a U.S. Plant Patent application filed concurrently. Plants of the new Salvia differ primarily from plants of ‘Dosalmiro’ in flower color as plants of the new Salvia have dark violet blue-colored flowers whereas flowers of plants of ‘Dosalmiro’ are deep purplish pink in color.

Plants of the new Salvia can be compared to plants of Salvia nemorosa ‘Blue Marvel’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 27,018. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Salvia differ primarily from plants of ‘Blue Marvel’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Salvia have smaller flowers than plants of         ‘Blue Marvel’.     -   2. Peduncles of plants of the new Salvia are very dark purple in         color whereas peduncles of plants of ‘Blue Marvel’ are yellow         green overlain with dark red in color.

Plants of the new Salvia can also be compared to plants of Salvia nemorosa ‘Sensation Deep Rose Improved’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Salvia differ primarily from plants of ‘Sensation Deep Rose Improved’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Salvia have smaller flowers than plants of         ‘Sensation Deep Rose Improved’.     -   2. Flowers of plants of the new Salvia are dark violet blue in         color whereas flowers of plants of ‘Sensation Deep Rose         Improved’ are pink in color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Salvia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the actual colors of the new Salvia plant.

The photograph is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Dosalmipu’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations and measurements describe plants grown in 17-cm containers in Aalsmeer, The Netherlands during the early summer initially in a greenhouse and finished in an outdoor nursery and under conditions and cultural practices which approximate those generally used in commercial Salvia plant production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 21° C. and night temperatures averaged 15° C. Plants were 18 weeks old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, Second Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. Measurements represent averages for typical flowering plants.

-   Botanical classification: Salvia nemorosa ‘Dosalmipu’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Salvia             nemorosa identified as code number SV13-000096-006, not             patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Salvia             nemorosa identified as code number SV13-000314-001, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 16 days at             temperatures about 26° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About three weeks at             temperatures about 23° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 24 days             at temperatures about 23° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four             weeks at temperatures about 18° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically             white to light yellow in color, actual color of the roots is             dependent on substrate composition, water quality,             fertilizer type and formulation, substrate temperature and             physiological age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Herbaceous perennial typically grown             as a container and garden plant; compact and upright plant             habit; uniform and vigorous growth habit; and moderate             growth rate.         -   Branching habit.—Freely basal branching with about ten             primary lateral branches each with about eight secondary             lateral branches developing per plant.         -   Plant height.—About 30 cm.         -   Plant width.—About 23 cm.         -   Lateral branch description.—Length: About 17 cm. Internode             length: About 3.5 cm. Strength: Strong. Aspect: About 5° to             15° from vertical. Texture and luster: Slightly pubescent;             glossy. Color: Close to 202A. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite and decussate; simple.         -   Length.—About 6 cm.         -   Width.—About 2.5 cm.         -   Shape.—Elliptical.         -   Apex.—Acuminate.         -   Base.—Cordate.         -   Margin.—Crenate with shallow divergent lobes.         -   Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth,             glabrous; lamina, semi-glossy and venation, glossy.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate, reticulate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 137A.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 137B. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 147A; midvein,             close to 143A and lateral venation, close to 147A. Fully             expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 137B; venation,             close to 147D.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 1 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.             Strength: Moderately strong. Texture and luster, upper and             lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Color, upper             surface: Close to 143A. Color, lower surface: Close to 147D. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement and shape.—Single bilabiate flowers             arranged on erect spikes; freely flowering habit with about             38 flowers developing per inflorescence and about 4,290             flowers developing per plant during the flowering season;             flowers face mostly outwardly; flowers sessile.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Early flowering habit, plants             begin flowering about nine weeks after planting; plants             flower during the month of June in an outdoor environment in             The Netherlands; flowers not persistent.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 5 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Shape: Elliptical. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous;             semi-glossy. Color: Close to 79A and 143A.         -   Inflorescence height.—About 14 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 1.5 cm.         -   Flower size.—About 4 mm by 8 mm.         -   Flower depth.—About 1 cm.         -   Flower throat diameter.—About 1 mm.         -   Flower tube length.—About 2 mm.         -   Flower tube diameter, proximally.—About 1 mm.         -   Petals.—Arrangement: Five petals fused at the base; one             upper banner petal (upper lip), two lateral petals and two             lower petals (lower lip). Lobe length: About 5 mm. Lobe             width: About 4 mm. Lobe shape: Roughly spatulate. Apex:             Round. Base: Fused into a narrow tube. Margin: Entire.             Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous; matte. Texture and luster, throat: Smooth,             glabrous; matte. Texture and luster, tube: Smooth, glabrous;             matte. Color: When opening, upper and lower surfaces: Close             to 89B. Fully opened, upper and lower surfaces: Close to             89B; venation, close to 89B; color does not change with             development. Throat: Close to 89B; venation, close to 89B.             Tube: Close to 155B; venation, close to 155B.         -   Calyx.—Arrangement: About four or five sepals fused to form             a campanulate calyx. Length: About 5 mm. Width: About 3 mm.             Shape: Deltoid, subulate. Apex: Acuminate. Margin: Entire.             Texture and luster, inner surface: Pubescent; matte. Texture             and luster, outer surface: Smooth, glabrous; semi- glossy.             Color, inner surface: Close to 79A and 143A. Color, outer             surface: Close to 143A.         -   Flower bracts.—Quantity: One per flower. Length: About 1 cm.             Width: About 5 mm. Shape: Roughly ovate with acuminate apex.             Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous; semi-glossy. Color: Close to 137A tinged with             close to 187A.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 13 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.             Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: Erect to about 20° from             vertical. Texture and luster: Slightly pubescent; glossy.             Color: Close to 202A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Two.             Filament length: About 2 mm. Filament color: Close to 155B             slightly tinged with close to 85B. Anther shape: Oblique.             Anther length: About 0.5 mm. Anther color: Close to 165B.             Pollen amount: None observed. Pistils: Quantity per flower:             One. Pistil length: About 1 cm. Stigma diameter: About 2 mm.             Stigma shape: Bi-parted. Stigma color: Close to 89B. Style             length: About 9 mm. Style color: Close to 155B slightly             tinged with close to 89D. Ovary color: Close to 143C.         -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit production has not             been observed on plants of the new Salvia. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Salvia have     not been noted to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Salvia plants. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Salvia have exhibited good     tolerance to rain, wind and to tolerate temperatures ranging from     −35° C. to about 35° C. and to be suitable for USDA Hardiness Zone     3. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Salvia plant named ‘Dosalmipu’ as illustrated and described. 